Vehicle seat side air bag system

Abstract

A side air bag restraint sub-assembly is disposed in a cavity in a vehicle seat. A reinforcement panel is secured to either the inflator bolts or the seat fame on one edge. The opposite edge of the reinforcement panel is sewn to a hem on one side of a tear seam.

1. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:
 a frame; 
 a pad formed of a shaped foam polymer material, the pad defining a pocket; 
 a air bag restraint sub-assembly being placed in the pocket and assembled to the frame, the restraint sub-assembly having a housing in which an air bag and an inflator are received, the housing having a split line that splits a wall of the housing, wherein upon inflation of the air bag by the inflator, the air bag is deployed through the split line; 
 a trim cover assembled to the pad that substantially encloses the frame, the pad and the restraint sub-assembly, the trim cover having a tear seam that opens when the air bag is deployed; 
 a reinforcement panel extends partially around at least one side of the housing and between the housing and the trim cover, the reinforcement panel is held in engagement with the frame by the inflator, wherein the reinforcement panel is secured to a single side of the trim cover at the tear seam, the reinforcement panel resisting elastic deformation of the trim cover when the air bag is deployed and channeling the air bag during deployment toward the tear seam; and 
 a reinforcement layer secured to the pad adjacent to the pocket, the pocket having at least one wall extending from an outer surface of the pad and into the pocket adjacent to the restraint sub-assembly, wherein the reinforcement panel overlies the reinforcement layer and the air bag is channeled between the reinforcement panel and the reinforcement layer during deployment toward the tear seam. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the reinforcement layer is made of a fleece material that is molded in situ into the pad. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the inflator is secured to the frame by at least one bolt and is retained on the frame by a nut, and wherein the reinforcement panel has at least one hole through which the bolt of the inflator is received to secure the reinforcement panel to the frame. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the tear seam is formed by two doubled back edges of the trim cover material that are sewn together by a tear seam stitch, the reinforcement panel being sewn to one of the doubled back edges of the trim cover. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the restraint subassembly is a side air bag module and the pocket is located in an outboard wall of a seat back portion of the vehicle seat. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the reinforcement panel is a flexible, relatively inelastic sheet of material that is less elastic than the trim cover. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the reinforcement panel is sewn to the trim cover. 
     
     
       8. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:
 a frame; 
 a pad formed of a shaped foam polymer material, the pad defining a pocket; 
 a air bag restraint sub-assembly being placed in the pocket and assembled to the frame, the restraint sub-assembly having a housing in which an air bag and an inflator are received, the housing having a split line, wherein upon inflation of the air bag by the inflator, the air bag is deployed through the split line; 
 a trim cover assembled to the pad that substantially encloses the frame, the pad and the restraint sub-assembly, the trim cover having a tear seam that opens when the air bag is deployed; 
 a reinforcement panel extending partially around at least one side of the housing and between the housing and the trim cover, the reinforcement panel being held in engagement with the frame at a location that is spaced from the restraint sub-assembly, wherein the reinforcement panel is secured to the trim cover at a location near the tear seam, the reinforcement panel resisting elastic deformation of the trim cover when the air bag is deployed and channeling the air bag during deployment toward the tear seam; and 
 a reinforcement layer secured to the pad adjacent to the pocket, the pocket having at least one wall extending from an outer surface of the pad and into the pocket adjacent to the restraint sub-assembly, wherein the reinforcement panel overlies the reinforcement layer and the air bag is channeled between the reinforcement panel and the reinforcement layer during deployment toward the tear seam. 
 
     
     
       9. The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 8  wherein the reinforcement panel is sewn to the trim cover. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 8  wherein the tear seam is formed by two doubled back edges of the trim cover material that are sewn together by a tear seam stitch, the reinforcement panel being sewn to one of the doubled back edges of the trim cover. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 8  herein the restraint subassembly is a side air bag module and the pocket is located in an outboard wall of a seat back portion of the vehicle seat.